whitehead



No. 608,314. Patented Aug. 9, I898. J. WHITEHEAD. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1897.)

6 SheetsShaet I-.

(No Model.)

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m: uoams PETERS c0. mo uumo. WASHINGTON, a. c

N0. 603,8l4. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

J. WHITEHEAD.

TDRPEDO LAUNGHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1897.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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gfzz/m No. 608,8I4. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

J. WHITEHEAD.

TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1897.)

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No. 608,8l4. Patented Aug. 9, I898. J. WHITEHEAD.

TORPEDO LAUNGHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed-Nov. 26, 1897.)

6 Sheets-$heet.4.

(No Model.)

HIIPIII m: mums PETERS coy, wmmumo. WASHMGTON, a c,

Patented Aug. 9, I898.

J. WHITEHEAD. TORPEDO LAUNGHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1897.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 9, I898. J. WHITEHEAD.

TOBPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1897.!

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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JOI-IN WI-IITEHEAD, or FIUME, nus'rnm-nunennv.

TORPEDO LAH NCHING APPARATUS.

srncrrrcn TION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 608,814, dated August 9, 1898. Application fil d November 26, 1897.? seen to. 659,913. on model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-v

Be it known that I, J OHNWV'HITEHEAD, manufacturer, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Fiume, Empire of Aristriadlungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-LaunchingApparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 1

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for launching torpedoes, and more particularly to apparatus for launching torpedoes under water from the broadside of a vessel in motion or from any fixed point in a stream.

The object of the said invention is to provide a means for launching torpedoes under water in such a manner that the torpedo will not be damaged or deflected ,by the waterpressure when emerging from the ships side.

The said invention consists in inclosing the torpedo-ejecting tube in a watertight casing extending from the side of the. ship inward, the outer end of the casing registering with an opening in the ships side and there provided with a sluice-valve by which that end of the casing may be closed or opened to the water.

The invention consists, further, in providing the ejecting-tube with a shield attached thereto and extending forward thereof, the

said shield being substantially U-shaped in cross-section, the bottom of the U constitut ing the rear side or back of the shield and composed of two swinging doors, while the opposite side is left open.

The ejecting tube and the shield are mounted upon suitable running-gear within said casing. When launching a torpedo, the sluice at the ships side, normally closing the outer end of the casing, is opened. The impulse-tube, together with the shield, is pushed outward in the casing until the shield projects from the ships side a distance approximately equal to the length of the torpedo. The torpedo is then launched by. expelling it from the impulse-tube, and as itmoves along the shield it is supported by the closed back therc= of, and thus protected against strain from water-pressure acting on part of its length only. When the torpedo is entirely outside of the ships side, but still within the shield, the swinging doors constituting the back wall of" the shield and against which the torpedo rests areautomatically opened, thus releasing the torpedo at an instant when the water-pressure is upon the whole length thereof. The torpedomaythen continue its coursewithout having been deflected therefrom by the pressure of the water upon a part of its length. only at one time and without having been subjected to the injurious strains consequent upon such action of the water. The torpedo having been ejected, the shield is drawn back into the easing, the. sluice is closed, as also the doors of the shield, the water is removed from the easing, and the apparatus is ready for charging again. o

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, the same will be. described in greater detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-.-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the launching apparatus constituting my invention with the top plate of the casing removed, some of, the parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 2 2, Fig. '1, and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 3 '3, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the cylinder and arrangement for actuating the lockingrrod. Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the charging apparatus;

and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the arrange ment of; the apparatus on board ship, the port apparatus being ready to launch the torpedo while the starboard apparatus is shown with the shield drawn back into the casing. ,Fig. 7 is a vertical section of ashlp, showing the apparatus as arranged 1n Fig. 6;

and Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken along the inclosing case and showing the. im ulsetube and shield in plan.

Siinilarletters refer to similar parts througlr out the several views. t.

The apparatus embodying my invention consists, among other parts, of an impulsetube a for ejecting the torpedo A. To this ejecting-tube is attached a shield or scoop b.

This shield is substantially U -shaped in crosssection, is exactly in line with the impulsetube, and when extended beyond the ships side has its open side presented broadside to the water in motion. opposite from the open side consists of two The side of the shield swinging doors 0 0, extending approximately the whole length of the shield. The doors are hinged, as at 0, to the top and bottom of the shield.

The doors 0 c are adapted to be locked together in the closed position by the rod d, ex-

tending longitudinally of the shield and carried in and guided by the eyes 0, secured at intervals to one of the doors. The other door former.

The eyes on one door are slotted 1 longitudinally, as shown most clearly at .0 Fig. 2, the slot being located at that point of the eye where the rod would engage it in clos- 1 ing the doors.

The rod d is turned down to a reduced diameter at points cZ along its? length, the distance between such reduced portions corresponding to the distance between eyes 0 This reduced portion of the rod is made slightly less in diameter than the width of the slots in the eyes 0 but the slots 1 are narrower than the full portion of the rod,

so that when the full portion of the rod d is 5 within-the eyes the doors will be locked, but

the doors will thus be unlocked.

The doors are thus locked in the closed position by the rod and eyes and unlocked by the shifting rod, the rod being adapted to move freely to 1 and fro.

working in a pressure-cylinder f.

This longitudinal movement of the bar d is effected by the action of a piston e,

A lever h is secured at one end to the rod f of the piston e and is provided at its other? end with a lug 71, which latter engages the 9 end of the rod d nearest the impulse-tube.

When the torpedo has reached that point in its forward motion in beinglaunched when i its tail comes opposite the pressure-cylinder, Y

the tail of the torpedo strikes a lever h,whieh is caused thereby to operate upon a lug g, which actuates an escape-valve and releases the air-pressure upon the back of the piston.

Air under pressure supplied to the said cylinder from any convenient source then acts on the front of the piston and shifts the rod d to that position, when the doors 0 0 will be unlocked.

The impulse-tube a and shield bare adapt- 1 ed to travel longitudinally in a water-tight casing Z on ways or guides m, secured to the shield.

The motion is imparted to the shield 1 and tube by the screw Z, journaled in the cas- 1 ing Z and engaged with a nut 71, carried by the impulse-tube. The screw 11 may be operated by any suitable motor k. The casing Z opens at one end into an opening in the ships side and is there provided with a sluicevalve 0 and is made of sufficient length to entirely inclose the impulse-tube and shield when the same are drawn into the casing. The casing is provided with a lateral opening at one side for the introduction of the tor pedo into the impulse-tube and is there provided with a door p. This door 19 consists of a metal plate with ribs piwhieh are adapted to be engaged by the clamping-screwsp carried by the hinged arms 19. The arms 1) carry at their upper ends hinged lockingarms p, which engage lugs 13 on the easing Z.

The torpedo may be entered into the i111- pulse-tube at the breech end, and when such a method is resorted to altogether the side door p of the casing may be dispensed with; but to save room, which is particularly important when the apparatus is used on board a ship, it will be found preferable to provide the casing with such an opening as door p,throu gh which the torpedo may be introduced laterally into the shield when the shield-doors are open and thence pushed backward into the impulse-tube.

I have devised a convenient carriage for transporting the torpedoes and introducing them into the casing, as shown in Figs. 4and 5, where q and r represent arms which support the torpedo by its after end and by a removable gudgeon o, screwed into its nose. Horizontal bars 3 carry the arms (1 and rand are provided with racks s, which engage pinions it, carried in a frame t.

The frame If is mounted upon suitable running-gear t, which travels upon guides or rails 75 and i Horizontal motion to and from the casing may be given the torpedo supported by the arms (1 and r by operating the pinions u and wheels u, and horizontal movement along the length of the casing may be given the torpedo by moving the whole carriage or frame it upon the rails t and t by operating the hand-wheel w, which is secured to the upper end of a shaft w, which is parallel to the frame t and carries at its lower end a pinion 10 which engages a rack 10 formed on the rail i The door of the casing Z being open, the torpedo is placed upon the arms q and r, as above explained, and carried forward toward the casing Z by actuating the hand-wheels w or other suitable mechanism. In this way the torpedo is carried bodily into the shield. The arm supporting the tail of the torpedo is then partially rotated, so as to free it from the torpedo, and is then drawn back to its original position. The frame 25, together with the torpedo, is then moved longitudinally toward the breech of the impulse-tube, pushing the torpedo before it, which then slides along the bottom of the shield b and thence into the impulse-tube until the tail of the torpedo touches the breech-cover of the impulse-tube.

The torpedo being in the impulse-tube, the further operations of launching it are as follows: The door of the outer casing Z being open, the swing-doors c c of the shield are closed by hand or otherwise, the reduced portions of the locking-bar d coming opposite and passing through the slots 0 of the eyes 0 The end of the bar d is then coupled with the lever h and the locking-bar is moved inward either by hand orby actuating the valvegear of the cylinder f, whereby the full portions of the locking-bar are caused to enter into the eyes 0 thus lockin g the doors in their closed position. The door of the outer casing Z is then closed and locked, the sluice-valve 0 is opened, and the impulse-tube, together with the shield, is run out by means of the motor which actuates the screw t until approximatelythe Whole of the shield has entered into the Water The torpedo is then ejected by admitting air under pressure into the impulse-tube or by any other suitable means and continues its course along the shield until a lug near the extreme after end of the torpedo strikes the toe of the lever h, raising the escape-valve g or otherwise opening it and permitting the new unbalanced air-pressure on the front side of the piston to draw this piston back, thus unlocking the swinging doors 0 c, which are then opened by the pressure of the water. The torpedo is thus set free at a moment when the pressure of the water due to the speed of the ship or to the current of the stream acts simultaneously on its whole broadsides. In this way the torpedo is not subjected to any bending strains at the moment of leaving the tube and may be launched without damage or undue deflection at any speed. The impulse-tube, together with the shield, is then drawn back into the casing, the sluice is closed, and the water pumped out of the casing.

Obviously I may make many changes in the above-described apparatus Without departing from the spirit of my invention; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a torpedo -launching apparatus, the combination withan impulse-tube, of a forwardly-extending shield secured thereto, the said shield being open on one side and provided with swinging doors on the side opposite from the said open side, substantially as described.

2. In a torpedo launching-apparatus, the combination with a casing communicating with the water, of an impulse-tube carried within the said casing; a shield having one side constantly open, the said shield forming an extension of and being rigidly connected with said impulse-tube doors arranged at the back of said shield; means for locking said doors in closed position, and means for unlocking the same, substantially as described.

3. In a torpedo -launehing apparatus, the

combination witha casing communicating with the water, of an impulse-tube carried within said casing; a shield having one side constantly open, the said shield forming an extension of and being connected with said impulse-tube; doors arranged at the back of said shield; means for locking said doors and means for automatically unlocking said doors when the torpedo has passed fully into the shield and without the said casing, substantially as described.

- 4. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination with a casing adapted to communicate with the water, of an impulse-tube carried within said casing; a shield having one side constantly open, the said shield forming an extension of and secured to said impulse-tube; hinged doors composing the back of said shield; eyes secured at intervals near the edge of one of the said doors; a bar carried by such door and adapted to slide to and fro in said eyes, parts of said bar being reduced in diameter; slotted eyes secured to the other door and adapted to come in line with the first-mentioned eyes and opposite the reduced portions of the said bar and means for moving said bar to and fro longitudinally, substantially as described.

nicate with the water, of an impulse-tubecarried within said casing; a shield havingone side constantly open, the said shield forming an extension of and secured to said impulsetube; hinged doors extending along the length of said shield and forming the back thereof; eyes secured at intervals near the edge of one of the said doors; a bar carried by such door and adapted to slide to and fro in said eyes, parts of said bar being reduced in diameter; slotted eyes secured to theother door and adapted tocome in line with the first-mentioned eyes and opposite the reduced.

portions of the said bar, the slots in said slotted eyes being smaller than the full portions of said rod and largeenough to; let the reduced portions of said rod pass through them, and means for moving said bar to, and fro longitudinally, substantially as described.

6. In a torpedo-launchingapparatus, the

combination with a casing adapted to commu-.

nicate with the water, of an impulse-tube carried Within said casing; a shield having. one side constantly open, the said shield forming an extension of and secured to said'impulsetube; hinged doors extending. along. the

length of said shield and forming the back thereof; eyes secured at intervals near the edge of one of the said doors; abar carried by such door and adapted to slide to and fro in said eyes, parts of said bar being reduced in diameter; slotted eyes secured to the other door and adapted to comein line with the first-mentioned eyes and opposite the reduced portions of thesaid bar, the slots in the said slotted eyes being smaller than the full por tions of said rod and large enough to. let the 5. In a torpedo-launching apparatus, the combination with a casing adapted to commureduced portions of said rod pass through them; means for moving said bar to and fro longitudinally and means for moving the shield together with the impulse-tube within said casing until the shield extends approximately its whole length into the Water, substantially as described.

7. In a torpedo-launching apparatus, the combination with a casing adapted to communicate with the water, of an impulse-tube carried within said casing; a shield having one side constantly open, said shield being connected with said impulse-tube and extending forward in line therewith; hinged doors forming the back of said shield; means for looking said shield; a cylinder and a piston working therein; means whereby the said piston is caused to unlock the said doors when the torpedo has passed wholly into the shield on being launched, substantially as described.

8. In a torpedo-launching apparatus, the combination with a casing adapted to communicate with the water, of an impulse-tube carried within said casing; a shield having one side constantly open, said shield being connected with said impulse-tube and extending forward in line therewith; hinged doors forming the back of said shield; a locking-rod extending longitudinally of said shield and adapted to lock said doors in the closed position; a cylinder and a piston working therein; a lever adapted to connect the said lockingrod with the said piston, and means for causing the piston to shift the said locking-rod and thereby unlock the said shield-doors as the torpedo passes wholly into the said shield, substantially as described.

9. In a torpedo-launching apparatus, the combination with a casing adapted to communicate with the water, of an impulse-tube carried within said casing; a shield having one side constantly open, said shield being connected with said impulse-tube and extending forward in line therewith; hinged doors forming the back of said shield; a locking-rod extending longitudinally of said shield and adapted to lock said doors in the closed position; a cylinder and a piston working therein; a lever adapted to connect the said lockingrod with said piston; a second lever for controlling the pressure on said piston, said lever adapted to be engaged by the rear end of the torpedo as it passes the lever and thus to put said piston in motion and unlock the said doors, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for launching torpedoes, the combination with a casing adapted to communicate at one end with the water, of a sluice-valve adapted to close that end of the said casing; an impulse-tube carried within said casing; a shield secured to and forming a forward extension of said tube; hinged doors forming the back of said shield; means for locking and unlocking said doors; runninggear mounted in said casing and secured to said shield; means for imparting travel to said running-gear and longitudinal motion to said tube and shield, substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus for launching torpedoes, the combination with a casing adapted to communicate at one end with the water, of a sluice-valve adapted to close that end of the said casing; an impulse-tube carried within said casing; a shield secured to and forming a forward extension of said tube; hinged doors forming the back of said shield; means for locking and unlocking said doors, runninggear mounted in said casing and secured to said shield; a horizontal screw journaled in said casing; a nut mounted on said screw and secured to said shield and means for rotating said screw, thus imparting motion to the said tube and shield, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus for launching torpedoes, the combination with a casing adapted to communicate at one end with the water, of a sluice-valve adapted to close that end of the said casing; a water-tight door at one side of said casing for the admission of the torpedo; an impulse-tube carried within said casing; a shield secured to and forming a forward extension of said tube hinged doors forming the back of said shield; means for locking said doors in the closed position; means for shifting the shield together with the impulse-tube within said casing until the shield has entirely entered the water and means for automatically unlocking said doors when the torpedo has Wholly entered the shield, substantially as described.

13. In a torpedo-launching apparatus, the combination of a casing leading into the water, of a sluice-valve adapted to close the outer end of such casing and of an impulse-tube within such casing with a shield substantially U shaped in cross-section adapted to have its open side exposed to the pressure of the moving water and forming an extension of and being rigidly connected with the impulsetube; doors arranged at the opposite side of the said shield and extending along its whole length and pivoted on axes on the top and bottom of such shield parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latter; means for closing such doors; means for locking such doors in their closed position and for unlocking the same; means for moving the shield together with the impulse-tube within the casing until the shield has entirely entered into the water, substantially as described.

14:. In a torpedo-launching apparatus, the combination with a casing leading into the water,a sluice-valve adapted to close the outer end of such casing and an impulse-tube within such casing, of a shield substantially U- shaped in cross-section adapted to have its IIO open side exposed to the pressure of the moving water and forming an extension of and being rigidly connected with the impulsetube; doors arranged at the opposite side of the said shield from the open side and extending along its whole length and pivoted on axes on the top and bottom of such shield parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latter; means for closing such doors; eyes secured at intervals to the edge of one of the doors; abar carriedby such door and adapted to slide to and fro in the saidleyes, parts of the said bar being reduced in diameter; slotted eyes secured to the edge of the other door and adapted to come in line with the first-mentioned eyes and opposite the reduced portions of the said bar, the slots in the slotted eyes being smaller than the full portions of the bar and just large enough to let pass through the reduced portions of such bar means for moving the said bar to and fro longitudinally and means for moving the shield together with the impulsetube within the casing until the shield has entirely entered into the water, substantially as described.

15. In a torpedo-launching apparatus, the combination with a casing leading into water, a sluice-valve adapted to close the outer end of such casing and an impulse-tube within such casing, of a shield substantially U- shaped in cross-section adapted to have/its open side exposed to the pressure of moving water and forming an extension of and being rigidly connected with the impulse tube; doors arranged at the opposite side of said shield from said open side and extending along its whole length and pivoted on axes on the top and bottom of such shield parallel to the longitudinal axis of the same; means for closing such doors; abar carried by such eyes and adapted to slide to and fro longitudinally therein and having some of its parts reduced in diameter; slotted eyes secured to the edge of the other door and adapted to come in line with the first-mentioned eyes and opposite the reduced portions of the said bar, the slots in the latter eyes being smaller than the full portions of the bar but large enough to let pass through the reducedportions of such bar; a cylinder; a piston in the said cylinder; a lever adapted to connect the piston with the said bar; means for admitting pressure on one side of the piston and relieving the same; a lever secured with such means, said lever being actuated by the moving torpedo; means for moving the shield together with the impulse-tube within the easing until the shield has entirelyentered into water, substantially as described.

16. In a torpedo-launching apparatus, the combination with a casin g leading into Water, a sluice-valve adapted to close the outer end of such casing, and an impulse-tube Within such casing, of a shield substantially U- shaped in cross-section adapted to have its open side exposed to the pressure of moving water and forming an extension of and being rigidly connected with the impulse tube; doors arranged at the opposite side of the said shield and extending along its whole length and pivoted on axes on the top and bottom of such shield parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latter; means for closing such doors; means for locking such doors in their closed position and for unlocking the same; means for moving the shield together with the impulse-tube within the casing until the shield has entirely entered the water, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses,

JOHN WHITEHEAD,

Witnesses:

O. E. YOUNG, T. DANTIL. 

